Greater Good Technology – a new ministry

Greater Good Technology is a new ministry developed by Catholic Web Services to help give disadvantaged people access & training in technology. We have developed a successful pilot program here in our hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia. Greater Good Technology’s program aims to help homeless people, by giving them a fair seat at the table to search for a job.

Empowering those transitioning from homelessness

Today’s society requires modern communications to be on a level field for employment. We train a Lead Training Mentor that targets 12 other men and women transitioning from homelessness to train. The lead trainer receives a Google Chromebook with which to train his trainees and receives payment for each trainee they graduate that is verified by our online training system at Catholic Web Services. Each trainee receives a Google gmail account, Google Voice number for email, begins to create a resume, and receives training on how to make calls online.

Successful Pilot

Catholic Web Services is successfully working with a man transitioning from being homeless, our first Lead Training Mentor, in the Charlottesville pilot program. Our Director of Technology, Carl Stacy became friends with this man through a local mentoring program. He wanted a way to give back to the community, the same community that had provided him assistance in his time of need, and was very enthusiastic about sharing his new technology skills with others to help them find employment.

We were thankful for an initial grant from the Lions Club, but need your help to grow this deserving ministry. Please contact us if you are interested in bringing Greater Good Technology to your community.

One of the reason’s this program works well is because it adds to a great support system of people and agencies who provide a network of services helping the homeless gain independence, housing, and employment. Charlottesville’s system of supports has grown over the years and is getting better through the cooperation of our great provider groups: PACEM, The Haven, Lion’s Club, The Salvation Army, and county and city social services.

PACEM is a grassroots organization that coordinates space and volunteers to provide shelter for individuals in our community who are homeless. Charlottesville currently has no permanent shelter for the homeless, so the religious community united to help in the cause of sheltering the homeless during the cold months of the season.

More than sixty congregations in the Charlottesville area take turns opening their doors – setting up cots, serving warm evening meals, and providing companionship. Through PACEM, congregations of many faiths and community groups come together to address the need for shelter in our community. The name, PACEM, is an acronym for (People And Congregations Engaged in Ministry). Pacem is also a Latin word meaning peace.

Director Tom Shadyac visiting his friends at The Haven

The Haven is a safe and welcoming place for the homeless and very poor of Central Virginia to be during the day. Opened for business on January 18, 2010, The Haven provides this community with a central place to receive vital services and get connected to social service providers. The Haven came into being through the generosity of UVA alumni & Movie Director Tom Shadyack. Tom came back to Charlottesville in 2006 to film the movie Evan Almighty, a hit comedy retelling of the Noah’s Ark story, and he gave proceeds of the film to buy an old city church to make it a “haven” for the poor and homeless.

The Haven provides meals, short-term storage, showers, laundry facilities, computer access, living room, community garden and referrals to on-site service providers offering substance abuse assessment, mental health peer support, financial literacy and counseling, legal assistance, public housing applications, resume development and job search coaching, health advocacy and navigation, social services such as food stamp screening. It has been a wonderful asset to bring all the services under one roof, and Greater Good Technology is working to help with technology training to give these men and women an opportunity at a better life.

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. The Salvation Army in Charlottesville provides temporary housing and food to those in need and primarily serves homeless women and children in our community, and currently has difficulty keeping up with the demand for services.

Help Us GROW! — YOUR SUPPORT NEEDED

We would like to continue this program and grow it to other communities, but we need your support. Your help with financial support, and through prayers are very much appreciated. We are seeing a great need to help the homeless and your support in any way helps us to keep our ministry going. We are looking for people who could donate monthly, but any size donations which are very much appreciated with secure PayPal links below. You can contact Catholic Web Services Director, John Clem, if you have any questions: